91' Excel Prop size/pitch

Keep an eye on your gal/hr, mine has gone as low as 3. I didn't have the original prop very long so I don't know if it is a big improvement, but I'm pretty happy with it from an old boat with a carb. We do pull hydrofoils, kneeboards and the occasional wake board with no ballast other than the crew, but if anything it seems to get better with more people in the boat.

On a related note, while I was talking to Vince at DIM one day, he said they had had succses with taking a little off the drive shaft in boats with this problem. Then you can run what ever prop you want, might be an option if someone did some damage to the shaft as well as the prop.

Tim, when I lay the 328 next to a 422 that I have it looks like it is about an inch thinner from the side, I'm not sure what I'm giving up because of that, but the 328 was made to deal specifically with that issue in those boats. It was even a little difficult to get the prop pulled in there to take off the prop it is so close to the rudder. The hull was based on a Sothwind from what I understand, it has more lifting strakes and maybe a deeper V than the earlier 80's barefoot hulls. Ithink it would make a great candidate for a top speed boat because it wants to climb out of the water, but the VDrive is a little slow out of the hole so you wouldn't win any drag races with the DD boats. Maybe on of these days do some work on her an find out.

Sorry I took so long, but Acme 328 is what you need. There is a clearance issue and the prop was designed to deal with that. I love mine, in fact it just came back from the shop and I've been using it intstead of checking for new forum posts. I got a better hole shot and lost no top end at the time, and I even gained another MPH since it got back, I'm sure the stout tailwind helped some. MPG's seem to be very good as well, but I never though they were low with the stock prop.

TRBenj makes sense.

The gear ratio of your 91 Excel 351 and my 92 BFN 5.8 HO can differ (that's why I wrote "about the same"). And I'm not the first owner, so don't know if the 14 x 18 is the original prop. Can also remember a post reading about a 14 x 16 prop for an Excel(try the search here and on planetnautique.com)

And if you know the ratio of your boats transmission, you can ask for advice on a newer design. I like the Acme far better than the classic Michigan. Price will be about the same for a new one.

Thanks for the info. Michiel200 that was what I was looking for. I will probably go w/ the 14 x 18 3 blade that originally came on this model boat. P.S. It was a 91 Barefoot Nautique that drew me to buy this boat; I love their wakes. I'll post back the results of the new prop when I have it in installed next week. Thanks for all the advice CCFans!

Kerry

My 91 barefoot has a 1.21 to 1 ratio so I assume yours does as well which makes the 15.5 pitch sound good. I looked thru the acme book at the local dealer and it listed the prop for yours and they made it special for the clearance issues. I would check the book at marina or call Bill and he will help. Let us know what you get and the performance numbers max rpm and how it changes the all around performance please.

Don't be perplexed. The simple fact is the prop was never put on properly!! Even the guy at the prop shop may not put it on properly!!!

proper prop installation

Lapping is recommended by Acme. A note to lap comes in the box with every new prop.

Wait for other member´s with that boat TXfoilhead or LKG..
That prop was not properly seated in the tapper...your whole setup was loose caste nut and cotter pin...
Then use pete´s tutorial on how to install and seat the prop on the shaft..can´t find it now...

You could either start a prop debate or call Acme, OJ, or Delta (all of which have numbers in the "links" section) and get the correct prop.